Events from Jesus' Resurrection to Ascension: No conflict

[ATG]

Here is the consistent timeline of events in order from the burial of Jesus, to His ascension 40 days later.

Many women from Galilee follow Joseph and Nicodemus to see Jesus laid in the tomb. Magdalen and the other Mary are specifically mentioned. (John 19) (Mark 15) Afterward that evening, some of the other women go home to prepare spices and ointments for Jesus' body. (Luke 23)

The next day on the high Sabbath, the chief priests go to Pilate for a guard on the tomb. (Matthew 27)

In the night, there's another earthquake, and an angel in appearance as lighting rolls away the stone, making the soldiers become as dead. (Matthew 28) Jesus either resurrects at this time, or any time during the night beforehand. At some time in the night, the guards awaken and depart the empty tomb, to report to the chief priests.

Magdalen comes later in the dark before dawn, and finds the tomb empty. She tells Peter and the other disciple, and they come running to see the tomb empty. They enter to see and depart. (John 20)

Magdalen remains behind and sees two angels in the tomb, and then Jesus Himself alive outside the tomb. She is the first person on earth to see Him after His resurrection. While still dark, she returns again to tell the disciples of His resurrection, and they don't believe it. (John 20) (Mark 16)

Magdalen, the other Mary, Salome, and the other women from Galilee, including Joanna, arrive at the tomb in the morning light. One group arrives with their prepared spices and ointments, while Magdalen's group arrives with bought sweet spices. They find the tomb empty. (Mark 16) (Luke 24)

Magdalen, the other Mary, and Salome are met by the angel that rolled away the stone, and are told to see in the tomb where the Lord had lain. Another angel sitting therein tell them to tell the disciples to go to Galilee to see Jesus. (Matthew 28) (Mark 16) The other women including Joanna enter the tomb and see no one, and while standing outside are met by two more angels, that send them also to the disciples to go to Galilee to meet Jesus. (Luke 24)

All the women depart and en route meet Jesus, and hold His feet in worship. He also sends them all to tell the disciples to meet Him in Galilee. They all then tell the disciples these things, and they don't believe it. (Matthew 28)

Peter runs to the tomb a second time and ponders these things. (Luke 24)

Jesus next appears to Cleopas and another disciple on the road to Emmaus, and later toward evening they recognize Him at table, and He vanishes from their sight. In that hour, they go to the eleven to tell them of Jesus' resurrection. They don't believe it. Luke 24) (Mark 16) Peter has now also seen the Lord Jesus. Paul reports that Jesus also appeared to James at some time.

At evening, Jesus now first appears to the disciples with the others in the their midst, and shows He is indeed resurrected bodily from the dead, and not only a spirit, by showing His hands and side, and eats some fish. Thomas is not with them. (Luke 24) (John 20)

8 days later, He appears to the eleven with Thomas as they sat at meat, and upbraids them for their unbelief, and also challenges Thomas to insert His fingers into his hands, and his hand into Jesus' side. (Mark 16) (John 20)

Afterward on another day, Peter goes a fishin' at the sea of Galilee with 6 other disciples, including Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of thunder, and 2 other disciples. For the third time after His resurrection, Jesus meets His disciples on the Galilee shore with food on a fire. They all know Him. (John 21)

Afterward on another day, all the disciples meet Jesus at the Galilee mount, that He had appointed them, and worshipped Him. Some doubted what to do. (Matthew 28)

On the 40th day after His resurrection, He leads all the disciples and many others to Bethany on Mt Olivet. (Luke 24) (Acts 1) There He gives His great commission with promise of the Holy Ghost, and ascends to heaven to be recieved up in a cloud. The disciples remain standing and looking upward for Jesus, until two angels come to remind them to go to Jerusalem, and wait for the promise of the Father.

These are a consistent order of events from the 4 gospels and Acts 1.

Paul confirms Peter saw the Lord first before the other apostles, on the evening of the first day of His resurrection, and that above 500 saw Him during the 40 days after. He was also seen by James after the evening of the first day, either before His second appearance to them on the 8th day, or afterward before the sea of Galilee for the third time.

As we can see, there's nothing really complex about this timeline, but is straightforward and simple enough, when set in order by events. The only difficulty is that they are written separately in the Gospels, Acts 1, and 1 Cor 15. In each account they are written in order, but the complete order is shared between them all.

God is not the Author of confusion, and so any confusion can only be by an undisciplined reading, and/or preconceived assumptions about Jesus’ burial, death, resurrection, and ascension…

 

[ATG]

Here are some explanatory notes, that clear up any apparent contradictions between the different accounts:

1. John 20 reveals Magdalen being the first to the tomb. It's still nighttime, she is alone, and the stone is already rolled away. This is the biggest key to sorting out a proper timeline of events on resurrection day: They begin in the dark before dawn, not in the morning at dawn.

2. Therefore, the record of the stone being rolled away in Matthew 28, is a backstory/flashback inserted into the narrative, that is written in past tense. Jesus' resurrection and the stone rolled away, is sometime before Magdalen's first pre-dawn appearance at the open tomb, not on the morning of Easter Sunday.

3. We also know the stone was rolled away before dawn, because the Roman soldiers were no longer guarding an empty tomb, but had awakened and departed to report to the chief priests. There were no guards at the tomb, who would have still kept anyone from entering in. Their command was to guard the tomb, and keep it from being violated.

Mat 27:65
Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

4. There are two groups of women arriving at dawn. One group is bringing their prepared spices and ointment, but Magdalen's group is bringing bought sweet spices. Magdalen's group could not have bought the spices on the way home, to then prepare them. In Luke 23, after Jesus' burial, the narrative sense is of the women going straight home, to prepare their spices. And also, the Sabbath had already begun, with no more buying and selling by lawful Jews.

Therefore, the different groups of woman at the burial, go their different ways home. Likewise they are not the same group of women arriving at the tomb around the same time two mornings later: Their recorded experiences at the tomb are not the same. Different events of different women around the same time, are being recorded by different Gospel writers.

Luk 23:56
And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Since there were two groups of women both arriving at dawn, then the 'separate' visits by angels no longer conflict, as they would with one group alone. Also, because this was Magdalen's second visit, then there is no conflict between her seeing two angels in the tomb at night in John 20, and then only one angel in the tomb at dawn in Mark 16.

There's no need to suggest they were the same event, as though both angels were sitting in the tomb at dawn, but only one of them speaks to Magdalen's group. Especially since at night they both speak to Magdalen.

Jhn 20:12
And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her...

5. The morning report by the women of Jesus' resurrection is the second one to the disciples, with Magdalen's report being first before dawn. Peter therefore returns a second time to the tomb alone, having been singled out by the angels. Since the disciples later report Peter had seen the Lord before the 2 return from Emmaus, then Peter saw Jesus after his second trip, while pondering these things. And so, Paul is correct in saying Peter first saw the Lord before all the other apostles.

5. The sea of Galilee appearance needs to be after the 2nd appearance of Jesus to the disciples and Luke on the 8th day:

Jhn 21:14
This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

We know it was after His 8th day visit, because Thomas was at the sea, and now also knew it was the Lord.

Jhn 21:12
Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

We also know it was before their last visit with Jesus, which was on Mt Olivet the 40th day of His resurrection, where He gave them His great commission. Going a fishing at the sea of Galilee, was not going to preach the gospel by commission.

We can also know that the sea of Galilee visit was before the trip to the Galilee mount. First, because the mount was appointed by Jesus. The disciples are now beginning to go where Jesus tells them, not where they personally choose to, as at the sea.

There is a reasonable objection that the visit at the Galilee mount could have been before the Sea of Galilee, or even before the visit on the 8th day. That being because some of the disciples at the mount doubted during Jesus' visit, as though some still disbelieved in His resurrection, like Thomas until the 8th day.

Mat 28:16
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

The problem with that objection is, that doubting something happening, is not necessarily disbelieving it. While the disciples didn't believe in His resurrection after reports were made by women. Nowhere is any apostle recorded not believing in His resurrection after having seen Him. (Thomas was not at the first appearance, and so still disbelieved afterward) Therefore, since all the eleven apostles on the mount had seen Jesus already, then they all already believed in His resurrection.

Although we speak of 'doubting' Thomas, Thomas' error was unbelief, not doubt. Jesus called Thomas unbelieving, not doubting.

Jhn 20:27
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

In Matthew 28, doubting is not unbelief in Jesus' resurrection, but rather in context of worshipping the risen Jesus. Some doubted what to do: Not only believe in His resurrection, but also worship Him as both Lord and God. Perhaps they doubted whether Jesus would receive their worship, after having forsaken him at the cross, as well as disbelieved Him when He said He would rise again on the 3rd day...

7. The order of these appearances between Jerusalem, Galilee, and Olivet also shows the use of time-gaps in the Gospel records. In Luke 24, without any narrative leaps of time, we would conclude that Jesus appeared to the disciples, led them to Bethany, gave His commission, promised the Holy Ghost, and ascended to heaven, all on the first day of His resurrection. Which of course would throw a serious wrench into all the other reports.

By taking all the reports together, one at a time, exactly as recorded, then the timeline of events fall neatly into place like a jigsaw puzzle, that looks confusing, but really isn't once they are put together properly.

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

I firmly believe that Christ's ascensions into heaven were the beginning of the fulfillment of the day of atonement. On that day the high priest entered the holiest place twice: the first time with blood for himself and the second time with blood for the people. When Mary Magdalen saw Jesus he told her not to touch him because he had not yet ascended, which IMO was so he would not be defiled by human hands. He then ascended to the throne of God to present the proof of his perfect obedience, ie, his blood.

Then he exited the holiest place and returned to earth where he ministered for 40 days. Afterwards he ascended to heaven again for the 2nd time (Acts 1:9) to present his blood on behalf of his people. There he will remain until the temple is complete, and then he will stand up to exit heaven and execute judgment on the world, at which point the day of atonement will be completely fulfilled.

 

[ATG]

I firmly believe that Christ's ascensions into heaven were the beginning of the fulfillment of the day of atonement. On that day the high priest entered the holiest place twice: the first time with blood for himself and the second time with blood for the people.

Very interesting. I haven't heard this before.

Heb 9:7
But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

Jesus certainly entered the holiest on high, with blood offered of Himself, and for our sins.

But, as with the earthly high priest, so is the heavenly entering once with blood for sins:

Heb 9:12
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

When Mary Magdalen saw Jesus he told her not to touch him because he had not yet ascended, which IMO was so he would not be defiled by human hands. He then ascended to the throne of God to present the proof of his perfect obedience, i.e. his blood.

I don't dispute Jesus ascending twice after His resurrection, first in the day of His resurrection before the dawn, and 2nd in the sight of all from Olivet.

Exactly why it is that He couldn't be touched by mortal flesh and blood before ascending first, remains a mystery. It could be due to being newly risen, but normally being touched by natural skin doesn't corrupt. (The Jews made it a superstitious religion not to be touched by Gentile flesh...)

Then he exited the holiest place and returned to earth where he ministered for 40 days. Afterwards he ascended to heaven again for the 2nd time (Acts 1:9) to present his blood on behalf of his people. There he will remain until the temple is complete, and then he will stand up to exit heaven and execute judgment on the world, at which point the day of atonement will be completely fulfilled.

If the atonement is not fulfilled, then none on earth are forgiven of sins and trespasses. Do you mean that the fullness of atonement in this age will be fulfilled for all calling on the Lord?

Rom 11:25
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Rom 11:26
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

If the atonement is not fulfilled, then none on earth are forgiven of sins and trespasses. Do you mean that the fullness of atonement in this age will be fulfilled for all calling on the Lord?

The reconciliation is of course fulfilled, but it's like a very long day and the high priest hasn't exited the holiest place yet. So the reconciliation is still progressing for new people that are brought into the kingdom.

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

Exactly why it is that He couldn't be touched by mortal flesh and blood before ascending first, remains a mystery. It could be due to being newly risen, but normally being touched by natural skin doesn't corrupt. (The Jews made it a superstitious religion not to be touched by Gentile flesh...)

A mystery that I guess one day we will know why

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

Exactly why it is that He couldn't be touched by mortal flesh and blood before ascending first, remains a mystery. It could be due to being newly risen, but normally being touched by natural skin doesn't corrupt. (The Jews made it a superstitious religion not to be touched by Gentile flesh...)

I'll look into some things in the OT to see if I can come up with some ideas. Maybe it has something to do with the red heifer that was slain to purify the temple. I have read that the red heifer was slain on the Mt of Olives, and possibly Jesus was slain there as well.

 

[ATG]

I'll look into some things in the OT to see if I can come up with some ideas. Maybe it has something to do with the red heifer that was slain to purify the temple. I have read that the red heifer was slain on the Mt of Olives, and possibly Jesus was slain there as well.

Now this is the right idea. Since Jesus' atonement was the heavenly pattern of the worldly sanctuary, then it makes perfect sense to look for that pattern from the OT statute.

Lev 16:17
And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.

And here we have the high priest was the only one, that could handle the blood of atonement, and take it within the vail to make atonement.

And there we have it. We know that He must have ascended after appearing to Magdalene, in order to make the atonement in the heavenly tabernacle, with His own blood for our sins.

I believe this is Scriptural verification to answer the question, rather than endless speculations. Good work on knowing where to look. Thanks.

The only problem is, that since He could later be touched, then His sanctification from others was no longer needed to make the atonement. The atonement was made by Him with His first ascension into the holiest of all.

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

The only problem is, that since He could later be touched, then His sanctification from others was no longer needed to make the atonement. The atonement was made by Him with His first ascension into the holiest of all.

I'm discovering things I didn't know. I've always heard that the red heifer ashes were used to cleanse the temple, but upon renewed reading I think they weren't used for that at all. They were used to cleanse the door of the tabernacle and to make water of purification that was sprinkled on people who touched dead bodies in order to cleanse them. So I think something is going on with that and Jesus telling Mary not to touch him. He was alive, but maybe he was considered a dead body somehow. And I'm going to have to look further to see if sprinkling of water is mentioned elsewhere in the OT, because this might be what Hebrews was talking about when it mentioned being sprinkled with clean water.

 

[ATG]

I'm discovering things I didn't know. I've always heard that the red heifer ashes were used to cleanse the temple, but upon renewed reading I think they weren't used for that at all. They were used to cleanse the door of the tabernacle and to make water of purification that was sprinkled on people who touched dead bodies in order to cleanse them. So I think something is going on with that and Jesus telling Mary not to touch him. He was alive, but maybe he was considered a dead body somehow. And I'm going to have to look further to see if sprinkling of water is mentioned elsewhere in the OT, because this might be what Hebrews was talking about when it mentioned being sprinkled with clean water.

I wouldn't say Jesus' resurrected body was 'dead', however, you're mention of sprinkling with clean water is good. It reminds me of being washed with the water of the word:

Jhn 15:3
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

I am glad you did bring up a possible OT answer for why Jesus could not be touched after His resurrection, and before His ascension.

With His resurrection, He became the eternal High Priest after the order of Melchisedec, and so only He alone could enter the holiest on high. No other person was allowed in the tabernacle itself with the high priest. And so, Jesus's resurrected body now being the eternal tabernacle, none were allowed to touch Him before ascending to enter the holiest, and make atonement for the sins of the world...